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'ANTONIO L. Mona, or NEW YORK, Npr. Lettere .Perea Ne. 70,597, ezeeeez Neeeeetee 5, 186i.

IMPaovsD HINGE.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCER: v

Be it known that I, ANTONIO L. MORA, ofthe city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and improved Combination Hinge; and I do hereby declare that 'the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable othersv skilled in the art to make and use the same', referencey being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart ot thisspecitic'ation. v

This invention relates to a new and improved device for supporting in any required position the covers of trunks, chests, desks, boxes, and all articles of similar construction; and the invention consists in combining with a hinge or bi1-tt (similar to those used on-the articles mentioned) a plate-pavfl and a spring acting thereon;l

and a circular-slotted ratchet-wheel is attached to'and drawn up when the said cover is raised, and which is held in place by thel spring and pawl, which are attached to the body or stationary portion ofthe trunk or other article, as will be hereinafter more fully described. l

The drawings, figs. l, 2, and 3, represent the'combined hinge, withthe ratchet and cover standing in dierent positions. v

Figure 1 represents the cover raised in an upright position, with the pawl thrown out of gear withthe ratchet, it being, when in'this position, ready to descend or to be closed. y

Figure 2 represents the oever raised to nearly van upright position, and heldin that position` by thc-pawl.

Figure 3 represents the cover nearly closed, and with thc pawl about to be adjusted, so as toengage with the ratchet when the cover is again raised.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

To each part of the hinge there is a plate attached, which, with the parts of the hinge, are attached to the trunk. The'platc which is attached to thecover draws up and controls the ratchet. The part which is fastened to the body of the trunk has the spring and pawl attached to it, and the ratchet, as the cover is closed, slides down in contact with the stationary plate. As seen in the drawing, theseplates which are attached to the parts ot the hinge and trunk are marked A 'and B. A is fastened to lthe body and Bte the cover, both to the end of the trunk, or one hinge thus formed at eacheend.v C is the ratchet; D is the pawl; E is the spring which acts 'upon the pawl; F is a stop-plate, which is fast to A. The paw-l D is in the form of 'a plate,'the corners oi' which form .different angles, as seen in the drawing. The angle a engages with the ratchet. As Seen in fig. 2, the spring E is pressing the pawl against the ratchenand engaging the angle a -with its teeth. The spring has aneye or coil lat .its end, as seen at c, which, as thecoverisraised, slips over the angle 0l of' the pawl, and' bears upon its side e, thus throwing it out of gear withA the ratchet-teeth, and'holding itselower edge in contact with the stopplate F. "The pawl is kept in this'position until the cover is nearly closed, as seen in iig'. 3. fis apio, which is on thcplate B, which,l as the cover descends,strikes the pawl, as seen in fig. 3, thereby forcing the angle a down and the angle d up past the spring c, thus bringing the spring to bear againstthe pawl onthe side g,

thereby forcing the point a against the ratchet, 'andso that it will-.engage with the teeth when the cover is again raised. z is a pin in the pawhwhich works in a curved slot in the edge of the plate A, by whichtthepawl may be pressed back from the ratchet when desired. The vratchet is circular in form, as Seen in the dra\ving, with a circular slet in it marked z'. J is ascrew-headed pin attached to the plate A. This pin-head holds the ratchet to the plate, and guides itas it slides up andrdown ori the plate. The ratchet is attached to the plate by a pin at K. y

Having, thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire te secure by Letters. Patent, is- 1. The pawl D and the spring E, constructed, arranged, and operating substantiallyas and for the purposes described, in combination with a ratchet hinge.

2. I claim the pin f, by which the p'awl is tripped, substantially as described, in combination with the pawl D.

. 8. In combination with the pawl D, I claim'the ratchet C and the stop-plate F, substantially as described. 4. In combination with a hinge, I claim the plates AandB, substantially as and for the purposes described. The above specication of my invention signed by me' this 27th day of July, 1867.

` ANTONIO L. MORA. Witnesses:

WM. F. McNAMAnA, ALEX. F. ROBERTS. 

